BCM has new SCM manager

Albert Whittles is reliably believed to have been appointed the new acting head for Buffalo City Metro’s pivotal supply chain management.

The crucial department in the metro has been without a fulltime supply chain management (SCM) accounting officer, also known as the general manager, for more than six months. This was after former general manager Thembelani Sali was suspended early in 2018.

A senior buyer, Nomandla Mxo, was made acting general manager. Upon her appointment, her salary, with her acting GM allowance added, almost tripled. This is revealed by her payslip, seen by the Dispatch.

The Dispatch has learnt that there were tensions between Mxo and Whittles.

BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya refused to comment on the tensions in the SCM department, or when the municipality would fill the SCM GM position permanently.

“We are not going to run an institution in the newspaper. We have systems and policies in place that are very clear on labour issues,” he said.

However, on Tuesday, Mxo confirmed she was no longer acting GM. Asked about tensions between her and Whittles, she refused to comment.

Mxo told the the Dispatch: “I’m no longer acting GM. Can you please not involve me in Dispatch stories.”

Attempts to contact Whittles for comment were not successful at the time of going print.

In August, the Dispatch reported on how the metro deviated from normal supply chain management provisions to give an audit contract to auditors without approval of the municipal manager.

This prompted Mxo to seek an explanation from Whittles as to how the deviation had been approved.

Whittles denied the accusation writing back that it was not possible for him to have requested the quotations because he did not have an approved deviation.

Asked about tensions between her and Whittles, she refused to comment